Introducing Kodoku, a new survival horror for PS4 and PS Vita

Hello! I’m Romain, founder of Carnivore Studio, an independent studio based in London.

You may have seen screenshots of Kodoku, the horror game we are currently working on for PS4 and PS Vita. If not, take a look at the images in this post.

For the uninitiated, here is a quick recap. The game is a horror and exploration game, set on a Japanese island. Instead of shooting guns at zombies, you will have to use strategy and stealth to survive all the Lovecraftian creatures – inspired by Japanese folklore – that live on the island. You will also be able to use magic talismans you will learn to craft on the island, in order to find your best way to face enemies.

This game means a lot to us. We wanted an original art direction, a very specific mood and general feeling – decisions which, we think, will lead to a unique horror experience. We grew up with horror games (most of us are huge fans of Siren series) and were fascinated by what we could do with all those legends and stories, so started building the game we wanted to play.

So who is building Kodoku then? Well, we are mostly industry veterans, almost all of us coming from different countries. Most of us have had the chance to work together before, in different places, or at least knew each other for quite a long time, and fell in love with the idea of creating a unique horror game.

We are taking inspiration from a wide array of topics, from the aforementioned ancient Japanese folklore and legends, up to modern art and Butoh dance. Using on all that, we are building what we hope will be a truly original experience.

Kodoku is game where you will be able to explore an entire island filled with mystery, horror and magic; where the island itself would come to life and take part in the Kodoku ritual; an island where you will be seeking an explanation and struggling to survive. This is the game we are making for you.

I really like the look of this game and especially the creature design. A guaranteed buy from me.

I must also say I really like the type of games Sony is pursuing for the PS4 so far… Koduku, Soma, Everybody’s gone to the Rapture, The Witness, Outlast, Hohokum… These are games almost tailor-made to my tastes. 🙂

Under the covers, headphones on my vita with the lights out. Bring it on. I look forward to that title for a lot of blogs: “…for PS4 and VITA”. It means we get new interesting games not ports and 99 cent games (for ten dollars).